Joey Batflip and the Batshits

The Washington Post's Barry Svrluga got the call last night, drawing the assignment to write the game story for Game 5 of the Rangers/Blue Jays ALDS series.

And like Jose Bautista did in the game itself, Svrluga ripped it deep into the seats.

"When human history is recounted, there will be the bat flip Bautista delivered Wednesday, and there will be all other bat flips, bowing in its presence. Filled with rage. Dashed with showmanship. Dripping with significance. The ball went out to left, a three-run shot that turned a tie game into what became a 6-3 Toronto victory that decided the series. Bautista’s bat remained in his left hand until he tossed it high. Rogers Centre about lost its roof."

Great sports deserves great sportswriting. If we at this humble blog might never be great sportswriters, at least we get to appreciate it when we see it.

Enjoy the blast and flip, in all their splendor:



The most surprising element of the entire episode, to me (notwithstanding Elvis Andrus forgetting how to play baseball for an inning), has been the relatively muted reaction this morning from the Keepers of the Game. Joey Bats' flip was epic. I was certain it would bring with it a rainstorm of old school invective from the same quarter that thinks Chase Utley's slide into Ruben Tejada was The Right Way to Play the Game.

But for the most part, even that group has just sorta nodded their heads and chalked Bautista's flip up to a heat of the moment celebration of something incredible.

And on that day, baseball's heart grew two sizes. And its fun quotient, too.